Falcon 15 - Manual

SAFETY WARNINGS / ISTRUZIONI PER LA SICUREZZA Page 8 3 SAFETY WARNINGS / ISTRUZIONI PER LA SICUREZZA SAFETY WARNINGS CONSIGNES DE SÉCURITÉ IMPORTANTES ISTRUZIONI IMPORTANTI PER LA SICUREZZA WICHTIGE SICHERHEITSHINWEISE INSTRUCCIONES IMPORTANTES DE SEGURIDAD (Rel. 1.1) 3.1 FOREWORD For your own safet...

SAFETY WARNINGS Page 9 4 SAFETY WARNINGS The installation and servicing instructions in this manual are for use by qualified personnel only. - Read All Instructions. All safety and operating instructions must be read before operating the product. They also must be retained for future reference, as i...

CONSIGNES DE SÉCURITÉ IMPORTANTES Page 10 5 CONSIGNES DE SÉCURITÉ IMPORTANTES - Lire ces consignes - Conserver ces consignes - Observer tous les avertissements - Suivre toutes les consignes - Ne pas utiliser cet appareil à proximité de l’eau - Ne pas obstruer les ouvertures de ventilation. Installer...

ISTRUZIONI IMPORTANTI PER LA SICUREZZA Page 11 6 ISTRUZIONI IMPORTANTI PER LA SICUREZZA - Leggere le presenti istruzioni - Conservare queste istruzioni - Osservare tutte le avvertenze - Seguire scrupolosamente tutte le istruzioni - Non usare questo apparecchio in prossimità di acqua - Non ostruire a...

WICHTIGE SICHERHEITSHINWEISE Page 12 7 WICHTIGE SICHERHEITSHINWEISE - Diese Hinweise LESEN - Diese Hinweise AUFHEBEN - Alle Warnhinweise BEACHTEN - Alle Anweisungen BEFOLGEN - Dieses Gerät NICHT in der Nähe von Wasser verwenden - KEINE Lüftungsöffnungen verdecken. Gemäß den Anweisungen des Herstelle...

INSTRUCCIONES IMPORTANTES DE SEGURIDAD Page 13 8 INSTRUCCIONES IMPORTANTES DE SEGURIDAD - LEA estas instrucciones - CONSERVE estas instrucciones - PRESTE ATENCION a todas las advertencias. - SIGA todas las instrucciones - NO utilice este aparato cerca del agua - NO obstruya ninguna de las aberturas ...

FIRST INSTALLATION RECOMMENDATIONS ENG Page 14 9 FIRST INSTALLATION RECOMMENDATIONS 9.1 POWER SUPPLY CABLE A power supply cable of approx. 2 mt length is supplied with the device, which has a moulded IEC plug attached – this is a legal requirement. The type of plug for the power supply depends on th...

FIRST INSTALLATION RECOMMENDATIONS ENG Page 15 9.3 FUSE REPLACEMENT The power supply socket has an integral fuse drawer containing the AC power fuse and a spare, both of the same value. BEFORE REPLACING THE POW ER FUSE, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TYPE OF FUSE FOR THE VOLTAGE TO BE PROTECTED. USING...

BLOCK DIAGRAM (FM & ST VERSIONS) ENG Page 16 10 BLOCK DIAGRAM (FM & ST VERSIONS) 3 2 ,4 4. 1, 48, 9 6 KH z A N A L O G I N P U T A N A L O G O U T P U T M P X O U T P U T D I G I T A L I N P U T MP X cl ip p e r R MP X cl ip p e r L di g ita l 38K H z o s c illato r AES 3 re ceiv e r X8 ove ...

FM VERSION DESCRIPTION ENG Page 17 11 FM VERSION DESCRIPTION 11.1 FRONT PANEL VIEW 1 Multifunction display (LCD) multifunction display showing the equipment operating conditions 2 LCD contrast: trimmer to adjust the display contrast. Please use a small screwdriver 3 Jog-wheel: for menu scrolling and...

FM VERSION DESCRIPTION ENG Page 19 11.3 AC CONNECTION The Falcon 15 uses a power entry module with AC switch just closed to the IEC power cord receptacle. It can operate on 110 or 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz AC mains voltages. If the unit is to be used with a mains voltage different to that for which the unit...

FM VERSION DESCRIPTION ENG Page 20 11.6 AUXILIARY INPUTS The Aux inputs allow the Mpx, SCA, RDS injection from external coders. The resultant signal (f.i. external RDS+ self-generated MPX) is available on the Output connector. Remarks: W hen using an external RDS encoder, the internal RDS one must b...

FM VERSION DESCRIPTION ENG Page 21 11.8 DIGITAL AUDIO INPUT Transformer balanced XLR-type and optic connectors are used to input AES-3, S/PDIF, IEC60958, EIAJCP1201 digital audio. To avoid malfunctions, only one digital connector may be connected at a time. Please keep the tos-link connector covered...

FM VERSION DESCRIPTION ENG Page 23 EXAMPLE N° 1 – controlling the SPLIT function from a TTL command Apply an external TTL signal through a 470 Ohm carbon resistor to the photodiode 1 (pins 6 and 1). Max current allowed: 10 mA. Nominal: 5 mA EXAMPLE N° 2 – controlling the SPLIT function from a clean ...

FM VERSION DESCRIPTION ENG Page 25 11.12 FRONT PANEL OPERATION As described at par. 11.1, Falcon 15 user interface consists of a front panel-mounted jog-wheel, two buttons and an LCD screen. The LCD screen displays menus, parameter settings and several bargraphs (Level Meters or processing activity)...

IN & OUT SETTINGS (FM VERSION) ENG Page 26 12 IN & OUT SETTINGS (FM VERSION) Once the unit is installed, here’s the procedure to get your Falcon 15 operating properly using factory presets. With proper calibration the Falcon 15 will give you the most accurate results for peak control and mod...

IN & OUT SETTINGS (FM VERSION) ENG Page 27 12.1.3 CHOOSING THE PROPER AGC OPERATION One of the most important processor function is the Automatic Gain Control (AGC) system, which compensates for variations in the input level to keep the signal at 0 dB. The following parameters regulate the AGC f...

IN & OUT SETTINGS (FM VERSION) ENG Page 28 W e suggest using medium levels of around 2 to 3 dB / sec, and especially that you concentrate on the audio sources connected to the processor, to obtain the most even sound possible. 12.2 THE VOICE OPTIMIZER NOTE: The processor features a phase rotator...

IN & OUT SETTINGS (FM VERSION) ENG Page 29 12.3 HOW TO CONFIGURE THE MPX OUTPUT (MPX MODULE SETUP) 12.3.1 SETTING THE PREEMPHASIS The Mpx Module Setup / Preemphasis menu toggles between 50uS and 75uS of preemphasis applied to the Falcon 15’s MPX output. European countries use a 50 uSec preemphas...

IN & OUT SETTINGS (FM VERSION) ENG Page 30 1 Escape from the Output Level menu and enter the Output Mode menu. 2 Select the Peak Reference Tone option. The Peak Tone identifies the maximum peak value of the audio and MPX signals reached by the processor while it is operating. This peak correspon...

IN & OUT SETTINGS (FM VERSION) ENG Page 33 12.5 SETTING THE SPLIT MODES The MPX SPLIT mode allows Falcon 15 Output to toggle between an external MPX signal applied to AUX 1 input and the MPX signal internally generated (see Switch SW 1 and SW 2 here below). Switching is triggered by Input 1 on D...

IN & OUT SETTINGS (FM VERSION) ENG Page 34 12.6 ADDITIONAL DATA AND SETTINGS 12.6.1 SERIAL PORT SETUP Serial Port Setup displays the serial port 1 and Port 2 status and allows to enable/disable them. - Serial Port 1 This selection allows you to enable / disable the port - Serial Port 2 This sele...

ST VERSION DESCRIPTION ENG Page 35 13 ST VERSION DESCRIPTION 13.1 FRONT PANEL VIEW 1 Multifunction display (LCD) multifunction display showing the equipment operating conditions 2 LCD contrast: trimmer to adjust the display contrast. Please use a small screwdriver 3 Jog-wheel: for menu scrolling and...

ST VERSION DESCRIPTION ENG Page 37 13.3 AC CONNECTION The Falcon 15 uses a power entry module with AC switch just closed to the IEC power cord receptacle. It can operate on 110 or 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz AC mains voltages. If the unit is to be used with a mains voltage different to that for which the unit...

ST VERSION DESCRIPTION ENG Page 41 13.9 FRONT PANEL OPERATION As described at par. 11.1, Falcon 15 user interface consists of a front panel-mounted jog-wheel, two buttons and an LCD screen. The LCD screen displays menus, parameter settings and several bargraphs (Level Meters or processing activity)....

IN / OUT SETTINGS (ST version) ENG Page 42 14 IN / OUT SETTINGS (ST version) Once the unit is installed, here’s the procedure to get your Falcon 15 operating properly using factory presets. With proper calibration the Falcon 15 will give you the most accurate results for peak control and modulation....

IN / OUT SETTINGS (ST version) ENG Page 43 14.1.3 CHOOSING THE PROPER AGC OPERATION One of the most important processor function is the Automatic Gain Control (AGC) system, which compensates for variations in the input level to keep the signal at 0 dB. The following parameters regulate the AGC funct...

IN / OUT SETTINGS (ST version) ENG Page 45 14.3 HOW TO CONFIGURE THE AUDIO OUTPUT (AUDIO MODULE SETUP) 14.3.1 SETTING THE PREEMPHASIS The Audio Module Setup / Preemphasis menu allows You to select one of the following options: - 50uSec Internal pre-emphasis enabled on the processor audio outputs at ...

IN / OUT SETTINGS (ST version) ENG Page 46 14.3.2 ADJUSTING THE AUDIO OUTPUT LEVEL The processed audio signal is available on the XLR OUT connectors. The factory preset for the output signal is 0 dBm. W here necessary, this output may be tuned using the Audio Module Setup / Output Level menu. In ord...

IN / OUT SETTINGS (ST version) ENG Page 48 14.4 ADDITIONAL DATA AND SETTINGS 14.4.1 SERIAL PORT SETUP Serial Port Setup displays the serial port 1 and Port 2 status and allows to enable/disable them. - Serial Port 1 This selection allows you to enable / disable the port - Serial Port 2 This selectio...

CHOOSING THE PROCESSING CURVE ENG Page 49 15 CHOOSING THE PROCESSING CURVE 15.1 INTRODUCTION Once you have adjusted the input levels and reached the correct AGC level, you may move on to select the processing curve. T here are 30 factory presets designed for various programming formats. Chose one th...

CHOOSING THE PROCESSING CURVE ENG Page 51 15.3 CHOOSING A CURVE As already explained in other sections of the manual, the DSPs in the processor implement three compressors, which affect the 3 bands: Bass, Mid and High. The three meter bars displayed on the front panel indicate the level of compressi...

THE REMOTE PC CONTROL SOFTWARE ENG Page 52 16 THE REMOTE PC CONTROL SOFTWARE 16.1 INTRODUCTION The Falcon 15 (ST and FM versions) comes with a powerful and reliable software running on all Microsoft W indows ® o.s. (’95, ’98, ME, 2000, NT and XP) and specially conceived for equipment programming and...

THE REMOTE PC CONTROL SOFTWARE ENG Page 53 16.3 RUNNING THE PROGRAM Open the software from Start -> Programs -> Axel Falcon 15 vers X.Y (or C:/programs/ Axel Technology / Falcon 15 Audio processor versX.Y). The computer screen should resemble the image below: Click the box X in the upper, righ...

ACCESSING THE TARGET FROM THE PC ENG Page 54 - The Output page includes the controls for the functions: MPX Output Level, Audio Output Level, Pre- emphasis, Noise Gate, Output Mode, Output Sync and Input Mode (Stereo/Mono). These controls may ba disabled, according to Yr Falcon 15 version (ST or FM)...

ACCESSING THE TARGET FROM THE PC ENG Page 55 17.1 THE SETUP PANEL 17.1.1 SELECTING THE PC SERIAL PORT First of all, it is necessary to indicate which computer serial port is dedicated to the communication with the processor (COM 1, 2, 3, 4 to 8). Once a port is assigned, click ‘Connect’ buton to att...

RDS / RBDS SETTINGS (FM Version only) ENG Page 58 18.3 CHANGING THE RDS / RBDS OUTPUT LEVEL This can be achieved from the RDS Settings menu: You may also switch RDS generation on and off and enable/disable RDS output while the Falcon 15 FM is on split (i.e. while it is replicating an external MPX si...

RDS / RBDS SETTINGS (FM Version only) ENG Page 61 18.6 PROGRAM SERVICE NAME (PS) 18.6.1 SCOPE The PS feature is intended to denote the Program Service Name. Both the European CENELEC and the American NRSC specifications for RDS/RBDS operation expressly forbid Dynamic PS as it may be a distraction to...

RDS / RBDS SETTINGS (FM Version only) ENG Page 63 18.6.4 PS SCROLLING PS Scrolling panel allows You to enter PS message which will scroll on the receiver display. It means, text is moved right to left across the display one character at a time at the rate set by the user (SPEED). Max lenght: 32 char...

RDS / RBDS SETTINGS (FM Version only) ENG Page 64 18.7 ALTERNATIVE FREQUENCIES The list(s) of alternative frequencies give information on the various transmitters broadcasting the same programme in the same or adjacent reception areas, and enable receivers equipped with a memory to store the list(s)...

RDS / RBDS SETTINGS (FM Version only) ENG Page 65 18.8 AF METHODS A AND B There are two ways to transmit lists of alternative frequencies: Method A and Method B. In both cases the lists should include only those frequencies for the nearest transmitters and repeaters (with overlapping coverage areas)...

HARDWARE SETTINGS ENG Page 68 19 HARDWARE SETTINGS 19.1 CHANGING THE INPUT AUDIO IMPEDANCE (FM VERSION) The analog input impedance may be set to 600Ohm, rather than 10kOhm, by moving the two jumpers JP1 and JP2 on the analog input board (see figure below). 19.2 CHANGING THE INPUT AUDIO IMPEDANCE (ST...

FIRMWARE E SOFTWARE UPGRADES ENG Page 69 20 FIRMWARE E SOFTWARE UPGRADES 20.1 FIRMWARE UPGRADE Falcon 15 comes from the factory with the most recent firmware installed just prior to shipping. W hen required, the firmware can be updated with the latest available version. In order to upgrade the proce...

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ENG Page 72 21 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS GENERAL FEATURES Weight Around 4.5 Kg AC Rate 220 Vac / 110 Vac Dimensions 1 rack unit, 352 x 483 x 44 mm Preset curves 30, factory programmed ANALOG STEREO AUDIO INPUT DIGITAL AUDIO INPUT (optional) Conversion 24 bit Connector Type XL...

WARRANTY ENG Page 73 AUX INPUTS (1 and 2) (MPX version only) Connector Type floating BNC, EMI suppressed Impedance 10KOhm Input Level - 40 to 0 dBm Purpose SCA, RDS inputs RDS / RBDS CODER (FM version only) Supported Standards : RDS (Radio Data System), conforming to the standard CENELEC EN50067 RBD...

WEEE Directive – Informativa RAEE ENG Page 74 23 WEEE Directive – Informativa RAEE In line with EU Directive 2002/96/EC for waste electrical and electronic equipment (W EEE), this electrical product must not be disposed of as unsorted municipal waste. Please dispose of this product by returning it t...